Drinking Vessel Dry Ice Filling Apparatus and Method

ABSTRACT

The Invention is an apparatus and method for charging a dry ice drinking vessel with dry ice. A dry ice drinking vessel has a dry ice chamber communicating with an interior of the dry ice drinking vessel through perforations. A body selectably holds a filter in engagement with a perforation of the dry ice chamber. Liquid carbon dioxide is discharged from a pressure vessel through a valve and flashes into carbon dioxide gas, a portion of which freezes to dry ice. The carbon dioxide gas and dry ice flow through an orifice into the dry ice chamber. The dry ice is prevented from leaving the dry ice chamber by the filter.

I. RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to priority from provisional applicationNo. 60/850,002 by Peter Nielsen filed Oct. 6, 2006. This applicationincorporates the following patents and patent applications by reference:U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,694 by Peter Nielsen, issued Mar. 22, 2005; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/645,019 by Peter Nielsen, filed Oct. 4,2004; U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 60/634,765 by PeterNielsen, filed Dec. 9, 2004; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/295,871 by Peter Nielsen, filed Dec. 7, 2005;

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The Invention is an apparatus and method to load solid phase carbondioxide, or dry ice, into a dry ice drinking vessel. The Invention alsois a beverage serving system including the dry ice drinking vessel. TheInvention is particularly useful to load dry ice into a perforated dryice chamber within a dry ice drinking vessel to allow the carbon dioxideto be exposed to a beverage subsequently placed within the drinkingvessel to cause a smoking and boiling visual effect and to chill thebeverage.

B. Description of the Related Art

A dry ice drinking vessel is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,694,issued Mar. 22, 2005 to the inventor of the present Invention and inother pending patent applications described above. The issued patent andpending applications teach a drinking vessel having an interior volumethat is equipped with a dry ice chamber communicating with the interiorvolume through perforations. When dry ice is loaded into the chamber anda beverage is introduced into the drinking vessel, the beverage flowsthrough the perforations and contacts the dry ice. The heat from thebeverage causes the dry ice to sublimate, creating a smoking andbubbling effect in the beverage and also chilling the beverage.

The dry ice drinking vessel of U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,694 is equipped witha water-tight door in the bottom of the dry ice drinking vessel to allowdry ice pellets to be loaded into the dry ice chamber. The process ofcharging the dry ice drinking vessel of U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,694 includesopening the water-tight door, placing dry ice pellets into the dry icechamber, and then closing the water tight door.

The prior art does not disclose the apparatus and method of the presentInvention for loading dry ice into the dry ice chamber of the dry icedrinking vessel.

III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Invention is an apparatus and method for loading dry ice into aperforated dry ice chamber defined by a dry ice drinking vessel. The dryice drinking vessel has an interior communicating with the dry icechamber by at least a primary and a secondary perforation. To load soliddry ice into the dry ice chamber, liquid carbon dioxide is allowed toexpand from the liquid to the gaseous phase and is simultaneouslyintroduced into the dry ice chamber of the dry ice drinking vessel. Theliquid carbon dioxide flashes into gas because of the sudden drop inpressure. The sudden change is state of the carbon dioxide causes asudden drop in temperature of the carbon dioxide and causes a portion ofthe carbon dioxide gas to freeze into dry ice. The dry ice is trapped inthe dry ice chamber by a filter, charging the dry ice chamber of thedrinking vessel.

The carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form under high pressure atroom temperature in a pressure vessel. A valve and piping controls theflow of the liquid carbon dioxide from the pressure vessel. Theapparatus has a body that is configured to selectably engage theinterior of the dry ice drinking vessel. The body includes an orifice.The orifice is plumbed to receive carbon dioxide from the pressurevessel by way of the valve. When the interior of the dry ice drinkingvessel is placed in engagement with the body, the orifice is alignedwith a central perforation of the chamber. The carbon dioxide ispropelled from the orifice through the primary perforation and into thedry ice chamber when the valve is opened.

The liquid carbon dioxide from the pressure vessel may flash into carbondioxide gas and then into dry ice upon exiting the orifice.Alternatively, the change of state may begin upstream of the orifice atan expansion valve located within the system piping.

The frozen dry ice takes the form of a powder. Air in the dry icechamber and the portion of the gaseous carbon dioxide that does notfreeze are expelled by the pressure of the incoming carbon dioxide fromthe dry ice chamber through one or more secondary perforations. Anopening in the body is aligned with the one or more secondaryperforations when the interior of the dry ice drinking vessel is inengagement with the body. The frozen carbon dioxide is prevented frombeing expelled from the chamber by a filter. The filter is mounted tothe body and is interposed between the one or more secondaryperforations and the opening defined by the body. The portion of thecarbon dioxide gas that does not freeze passes through the filter, whilethe filter substantially prevents the dry ice powder from exitingthrough the secondary perforations in the dry ice chamber.

The interior of the dry ice drinking vessel and the body may be placedin selectable engagement. The interior defines an interior longitudinalaxis and the body defines a body longitudinal axis. The interior and thebody longitudinal axes are coincident when the body and interior are inengagement. The orifice appears on the body longitudinal axis at a freeend of the body and the primary perforation appears at a correspondinglocation on the interior longitudinal axis, which provides for thealignment of the orifice and primary perforation.

The filter and the opening in the body are annularly arranged about theorifice on the cylindrical body. The one or more secondary perforationsare arranged to align with the opening and the filter when the body andinterior are in engagement. The body holds the filter in positionagainst the secondary perforations when the body and interior are inengagement.

The body is hollow. The shape of the body corresponds to the shape ofthe drinking vessel. If the drinking vessel interior is cylindrical, thebody also will be cylindrical. The filter is attached to the free end ofthe body and the periphery of the filter is bonded to and supported bythe free end of the body. The filter may be circular to conform to thecylindrical interior of the dry ice drinking vessel. The filter isselected to allow the passage of carbon dioxide gas in the quantitiesthat are discharged by the apparatus while preventing escape of dry icepowder.

The cylindrical body and the circular filter engage the inside surfaceof the interior of the drinking vessel when the body is placed intoengagement with the drinking vessel. The cylindrical body holds thecircular filter in place against the secondary perforations of thechamber, thus filtering the carbon dioxide powder from the escapingcarbon dioxide gas and air, when the apparatus is engaged with adrinking vessel and liquid carbon dioxide is being discharged into thechamber. The filter also serves to restrict bypassing of the primaryperforation by dry ice flowing from the orifice.

In use, the drinking vessel is placed in engagement with the body, withthe body engaging the interior of the drinking vessel, the orifice isaligned with the primary perforation and the filter is in engagementwith the secondary perforations. The valve is opened and liquid carbondioxide is injected into the chamber. Alternatively, the liquid carbondioxide flashes into carbon dioxide gas upstream of the orifice.Expelled air and carbon dioxide gas pass through the secondaryperforations of the chamber and through the filter. Frozen carbondioxide powder is filtered from the gas stream by the filter and isretained in the dry ice chamber. When the chamber contains an adequateamount of carbon dioxide powder, the flow of liquid carbon dioxide gasis stopped and the drinking vessel removed from the apparatus.

A beverage is dispensed into the drinking vessel and a portion of thebeverage freezes into a composite solid with the carbon dioxide powder.The carbon dioxide in the resulting dry ice/beverage composite thensublimates, causing a boiling, smoking effect of the beverage. Thecreation of the dry ice/beverage composite has the benefit of extendingthe visual effect compared with charging the dry ice drinking vesselwith dry ice pellets because the dry ice in the composite sublimatesslower than the dry ice atone. The creation of the dry ice using liquidcarbon dioxide to create the dry ice also is a benefit because theliquid carbon dioxide may be easily transported and stored indefinitelyat room temperature, unlike dry ice pellets.

The apparatus may include a pressure relief valve to prevent applicationof excessive pressure to the apparatus. The apparatus may include afixture to hold the drinking vessel in the correct position when thedrinking vessel is being charged with dry ice. The fixture may comprisea dry ice charging station having a base containing the pressure vesseland the valve. The dry ice charging station may include a dry icedrinking vessel containment to enclose the dry ice drinking vesselduring charging. The apparatus may include an electrically operatedvalve to control the flow of liquid carbon dioxide.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway detail perspective view of the apparatus ofthe invention.

FIG. 3 is a detail cross section of an alternative embodiment of theapparatus.

FIG. 4 is a cross section side view of the apparatus in operation tocharge a dry ice drinking vessel with dry ice.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of formation of the dry ice/beveragecomposite.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a charging station for use in arestaurant or nightclub.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross section view of the charging station for usein a restaurant or nightclub.

V. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The invention is an apparatus and method for charging a dry ice drinkingvessel with dry ice. FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate the apparatus of theInvention. FIG. 5 shows a charged dry ice drinking vessel in use. FIG. 6shows a charging station incorporating the Invention.

From FIG. 1, a charging system 2 comprises a body 4 to a pressure vessel6 containing liquid carbon dioxide 8. Pressure vessel 6 is equipped witha straw 10 so that liquid carbon dioxide 8 is drawn from the bottom ofthe pressure vessel 6. Body 4 is plumbed to pressure vessel 6 by piping12. A manual valve 14 allows the pressure vessel 6 to be manually shutoff.

As shown by FIG. 1, the manual valve 14 is plumbed to anelectrically-operated valve 16. Electrically-operated valve 16 isconnected to a switch 20 and to a power supply 18. Upon activation ofswitch 20 by a user, valve 16 opens, allowing liquid carbon dioxide 8 toflow from pressure vessel 6. Valve 16 may be timed to allow Liquidcarbon dioxide 8 to flow for a predetermined time, for example, twoseconds. The predetermined time is selected to provide an adequatecharge of dry ice 56 to drinking vessel 28. Applicant believes thatremote bottle opener part number 1809 by Nitrous Direct is suitable forvalve 16. Applicant believes that a push button switch is suitable forswitch 20.

‘T’ connector 22 joins body 4 and pressure relief valve 24 to piping 12.Pressure relief valve 24 is conventional and prevents over-pressuring ofthe charging system 2 by the carbon dioxide 8. Pressure relief valvepart number WMV 4-50 from Nitrous Direct, 516 River Highway D169,Mooresville, N.C. 28117, is suitable for pressure relief valve 24.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway detail perspective view of the body 4 of thecharging system 2 of the Invention. FIG. 3 is detail partial crosssection of a side view of an alternative embodiment of charging system2. From FIG. 2, coupling 30 is plumbed to the T coupling 22 illustratedby FIG. 1. Expansion valve 32 is retained in position by coupling 30 andreceives liquid carbon dioxide 8 from T-coupling 22. Expansion valve 32is selected to meter a suitable flow of liquid carbon dioxide 8.Alternatively, liquid carbon dioxide 8 may be metered by valve 16, shownby FIG. 1.

Fitting 34 engages expansion valve 32 by a female thread portion 36. Asthe liquid carbon dioxide 8 passes through expansion valve 32, theliquid carbon dioxide flashes into carbon dioxide gas with anaccompanying drop in temperature. A portion of the carbon dioxide gasfreezes to dry ice powder. Fitting 34 receives metered carbon dioxidefrom expansion valve 32 while the carbon dioxide is flashing to vaporand freezing. Fitting 34 conveys carbon dioxide to orifice 38. In use, aquick release connector, Lincoln air nipple ¼ male, model 11659, for usewith air tools has proved suitable for fitting 34, but any suitablefitting 34 may be used.

Body 4 is a hollow cylinder. PVC plumbing pipe has proven suitable forbody 4 in practice, but any suitable material may be used. Pop rivet 40rigidly connects body 4 to female thread portion 36 of fitting 34. Body4 has a free end 42. Free end 42 is bonded to a filter 44 at a periphery46 of filter 44. Filter 44 covers the otherwise open free end 42 of body4. Fitting 34 penetrates filter 44 and orifice 38 is coplanar withfilter 44. Fitting 34 is bonded to filter 44. Any filter 44 suitable forallowing passage of carbon dioxide gas and air while having a pore sizesmall enough to trap frozen carbon dioxide powder is suitable for filter44. A filter 44 manufactured by Porex Corporation, 500 Bohannon Road,Fairburn, Ga., 30213 has proven suitable in practice, but any suitablefilter 44 may be used. The preferred filter 44 is ultra-high molecularweight polyethylene ⅛ inches thick coarse, Porex model PE 90-130U.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of charging system 2. FromFIG. 3, a union 64 joins expansion valve 32 and fitting 34. Rivet 16connects body 4 to union 64. A Western BF 4 HP coupler, ¼ NPT female hasproven suitable for union 64. Expansion valve 32 may be dispensed withand metering tasks handled by manual valve 14 or byelectrically-operated valve 16.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the charging system 2 in use. A dry icedrinking vessel 28 (as illustrated by FIG. 5) is placed in an invertedposition and in engagement with free end body 4. Drinking vessel 28defines a dry ice chamber 48. The dry ice chamber 48 features a primaryperforation 50 and secondary perforations 52. Primary and secondaryperforations 50, 52 communicate between dry ice chamber 48 and aninterior 26 of dry ice drinking vessel 28.

When the apparatus 2 is in engagement with the interior 26 of drinkingvessel 28, orifice 38 is held in alignment with primary perforation 50.Filter 44 is supported by fitting 34 and body 4 and is held by fitting34 and body 4 so that filter 44 covers secondary perforation 52.Alignment of the primary perforation 50 and the orifice 38 is achievedby providing the body 4 with a body longitudinal axis 53 and providingthe interior 26 with an interior longitudinal axis 55. The orifice 38falls on the body longitudinal axis 53 and the primary perforation 50falls on the interior longitudinal axis 55. The body 4 and interior 26are configured so that the body and interior longitudinal axes 53, 55fall substantially on the same line when the interior 26 is placed inengagement with the body 4. The longitudinal axes 53, 55 will fallsubstantially on the same line if the shape of the body 4 is selected toconform to the shape of the interior 26—if the interior 26 iscylindrical, the body 4 also will be cylindrical.

Body 4 is illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 6 as cylindrical in shape, but thebody 4 may be any shape that will engage with the interior 26 of the dryice drinking vessel 28.

In use, liquid carbon dioxide 8 is supplied through coupling 30. Theliquid carbon dioxide 8 is metered by expansion valve 32 and dischargedinto fitting 34. Carbon dioxide (indicated by arrow 54) passing throughfitting 34 is in the process of flashing into vapor and freezing. Carbondioxide shown by arrow 54 is discharged through primary perforation 50into dry ice chamber 48. The carbon dioxide entering the dry ice chamber48 comprises a mixture of carbon dioxide vapor and dry ice powder 56.Carbon dioxide vapor that is not frozen (indicated by arrows 58) exitschamber 48 through secondary perforation 52. The carbon dioxide vaporindicated by arrows 58 flows through body 4 and exits from body 4. Dryice powder 56 is prevented from exiting the dry ice chamber 48 by thefilter 44. When sufficient dry ice powder 56 has accumulated in chamber48, the electrically-operated valve 16 is closed and the flow of liquidcarbon dioxide 8 stopped.

As shown by the cross section view of FIG. 5, upon charging dry icedrinking vessel 28 with dry ice powder 56, drinking vessel 28 may beplaced in an upright position and a beverage 58 dispensed into drinkingvessel 28. Beverage 58 flows through primary and secondary perforations50, 52 into dry ice chamber 48. Beverage 58 contacts dry ice powder 56.A portion of beverage 58 immediately freezes around dry ice powder 56,forming a solid dry ice/beverage composite 60. The dry ice powder 56 inthe dry ice/beverage composite 60 immediately begins to sublimate,releasing carbon dioxide vapor as bubbles 62. Bubbles 62 cause aboiling, bubbling effect within beverage 58.

Dry ice/beverage composite 60 is too large to pass through perforations28, 30. As a result, dry ice 36 poses no danger to a person drinkingfrom dry ice drinking vessel 28.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a preferred dry ice charging station 66according to the Invention that is useful for charging dry ice drinkingvessels 28 in a commercial setting. As shown by FIG. 6, base 68 and dryice drinking vessel holding portion 70 are provided. The dry icedrinking vessel holding portion 70 may be composed of a substantiallytransparent material, indicated by lines 72. Any suitable substantiallytransparent material, such as acrylic plastic, may be used for the dryice drinking vessel holding portion 70 to allow a server or a customerto observe the dry ice charging station 66 in operation. A removable lid74 protects a server and a customer from inadvertent discharge of carbondioxide 8. Lid 74 may be equipped with interlocks to prevent operationof electrically operated valve 16 with the lid 74 in the open position.

As shown by FIG. 7, a base 68 contains an electrically operated valve16, piping 12, T-coupling 22 and pressure relief valve 24. Push buttonelectrical switch 20 to operate electrically operated valve 16 ismounted on a front side of the dry ice charging station 66. Power supply18 (not shown on FIG. 7) is provided by wall current. Piping 12 connectsthe charging station 66 to a manual valve 14 and pressure vessel 6. Thecharging station 66 therefore receives liquid carbon dioxide 8 from anexternal pressure vessel 6 through manual valve 14.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 6 and 7, no expansionvalve 32 is provided and fitting 34 is a straight piece of ¼ inchdiameter tubing. Fitting 34 defines orifice 38. In the preferredembodiment, rivet 40 is omitted and fitting 34 and body 4 are supportedby base 68 using any conventional means, such as an adhesive, a couplingor a compression fitting. In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7,Body 4 is a composed of PVC plumbing pipe.

In use, an operator will remove the lid 74, exposing the free end 42 ofbody 4. The operator will invert the dry ice drinking vessel 28 andplace the dry ice drinking vessel 28 into engagement with the body 4 asillustrated by FIG. 4 and described above relating to that figure. Theoperator will replace the lid 74 and depress push button electricalswitch 20. Push button electrical switch 20 causes electrical valve 16,shown by FIG. 1, to open, releasing liquid carbon dioxide 8. The liquidcarbon dioxide 8 exiting the electrically operated valve 16 flashes intovapor, a portion of which freezes into dry ice 56. The dry ice 56 andcarbon dioxide vapor 58 are propelled within fitting 34 through orifice38 and into dry ice chamber 48, as described above relating to FIG. 4.Carbon dioxide gas 38 that does not freeze into dry ice 56 escapesthrough filter 44 into body 4 while dry ice 56 is prevented fromescaping the dry ice chamber 48 by filter 44. Carbon dioxide gas escapesfrom body 4 through holes 76.

When the dry ice chamber 48 is adequately charged with dry ice 56, theoperator releases switch 20, stopping the flow of liquid carbon dioxide8 through electrically operated valve 16. The operator opens lid 74 andremoves the dry ice drinking vessel 28 from engagement with the body 4.The operator adds a beverage 58 to the interior 26 of the dry icedrinking vessel 28, as described above relating to FIG. 5.

In describing the above embodiments of the invention, specificterminology was selected for the sake of clarity. However, the inventionis not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and itis to be understood that each specific term includes all technicalequivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similarpurpose.

1. An apparatus for charging a dry ice drinking vessel with dry ice where the dry ice drinking vessel includes a dry ice chamber and an interior and where the dry ice drinking vessel further includes a primary perforation and a secondary perforation communicating between said interior and said dry ice chamber, the interior having a predetermined shape, the apparatus comprising: a. a body, said body conforming generally to the predetermined shape of the interior of the dry ice drinking vessel for selectable engagement with the interior of the dry ice drinking vessel; c. an orifice, said orifice being aligned with the primary perforation of the dry ice drinking vessel when the interior of the dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body; d. a pressure vessel containing carbon dioxide; e. means to selectably discharge said carbon dioxide through said orifice.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising: a filter, said body defining an opening, said opening being aligned with the secondary perforation when said body and the interior of the dry ice drinking vessel are in engagement, said filter being supported by said body and interposed between the secondary perforation and said opening when the interior of the dry ice drinking vessel and said body are in engagement.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said filter has a pore size, said pore size being selected substantially to stop the dry ice from passing through said filter.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said body defines a body longitudinal axis and the interior of the dry ice drinking vessel defines a dry ice drinking vessel longitudinal axis, said body longitudinal axis and said dry ice drinking vessel longitudinal axis being generally coincident when the interior of said dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body, said orifice being located on said body longitudinal axis and said primary perforation being located on said dry ice drinking vessel longitudinal axis, whereby said orifice and said primary perforation are aligned when said dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said body is generally cylindrical and has a free end, said orifice is located at said free end of said body and said filter and said opening are located at said free end of said body, said opening and said filter being annularly arranged about said orifice.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pressure vessel contains liquid carbon dioxide and said means to selectably discharge carbon dioxide comprising an electrically operated valve.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, the apparatus further comprising: a. a base, said base containing said electrically operated valve; b. a dry ice drinking vessel containment attached to said base, said dry ice drinking vessel containment containing said body, said dry ice drinking vessel containment further containing said dry ice drinking vessel when said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body; c. a lid selectably closing said dry ice drinking vessel containment.
 8. An apparatus for serving a beverage, the apparatus comprising: a. a dry ice drinking vessel having a dry ice chamber, an interior, a primary perforation and a secondary perforation, said primary and said secondary perforations communicating between said dry ice chamber and said interior, said interior of said dry ice drinking vessel having a predetermined shape: b. a body, said body conforming generally to said predetermined shape of said interior of said dry ice drinking vessel for selectable engagement with said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel; c. an orifice, said orifice being aligned with said primary perforation of said dry ice drinking vessel when said interior of said dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body; d. a pressure vessel containing carbon dioxide; e. means to selectably discharge said carbon dioxide through said orifice.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, the apparatus further comprising: a filter, said body defining an opening, said opening being aligned with said secondary perforation when said body and said interior of said dry ice drinking vessel are in engagement, said filter being supported by said body and interposed between said secondary perforation and said opening when said interior of said dry ice drinking vessel and said body are in engagement.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said filter has a pore size, said pore size being selected substantially to stop said a solid dry ice from passing through said filter.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said body defines a body longitudinal axis and said interior of said dry ice drinking vessel defines a dry ice drinking vessel longitudinal axis, said body longitudinal axis and said dry ice drinking vessel longitudinal axis being generally coincident when said interior of said dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body, said orifice being located on said body longitudinal axis and said primary perforation being located on said dry ice drinking vessel longitudinal axis, whereby said orifice and said primary perforation are aligned when said dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said body is generally cylindrical, said orifice is located at a free end of said body and said filter and said opening are located at said free end of said body, said opening and said filter being annularly arranged about said orifice.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said pressure vessel contains liquid carbon dioxide and said means to selectably discharge said liquid carbon dioxide comprising an electrically operated valve.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, the apparatus further comprising: a. a base, said base containing said electrically operated valve; b. a dry ice drinking vessel containment attached to said base, said dry ice drinking vessel containment containing said body, said dry ice drinking vessel containment containing said dry ice drinking vessel when said interior is in engagement with said body; c. a lid selectably closing said dry ice drinking vessel containment.
 15. A method for charging a dry ice drinking vessel with a dry ice, the method comprising: a. placing the dry ice drinking vessel in engagement with a charging station, said charging station having a body, the dry ice drinking vessel having a dry ice chamber and an interior, said interior and said dry ice chamber having a primary perforation and a secondary perforation communicating between said interior and said dry ice chamber, said placing of the dry ice drinking vessel in engagement with said charging station comprising placing said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel in engagement with said body, said body including an orifice, said orifice being aligned with said primary perforation when said body is in engagement with said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel; b. opening a valve, said valve selectably controlling a flow of carbon dioxide from a pressure vessel, said flow of carbon dioxide discharging through said orifice; c. receiving said carbon dioxide by said dry ice chamber through said primary perforation; d. collecting the dry ice within said dry ice chamber and releasing a carbon dioxide gas from said dry ice chamber through said secondary perforation; e. removing said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel from engagement with said body.
 16. The method of claim 15, the steps of collecting the dry ice in said dry ice chamber and releasing said carbon dioxide gas further comprising: a. providing a filter, said filter being in engagement with said secondary perforation when said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body, said filter being supported by said body, said body defining an opening communicating from an exterior to an interior of said body, said opening being aligned with said secondary perforation when said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body, said filter being interposed between said secondary perforation and said opening when said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body; b. separating the dry ice from said carbon dioxide gas by passing said carbon dioxide gas through said filter and through said opening and by excluding the dry ice from passing through said filter and said opening.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel defines a drinking vessel longitudinal axis, said body defines a body longitudinal axis, said drinking vessel longitudinal axis and said body longitudinal axis being generally coincident when said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel is in engagement with said body.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said primary perforation is located on said drinking vessel longitudinal axis and said orifice is located on said body longitudinal axis.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein said body is generally cylindrical, said orifice is located at a free end of said body, said opening is defined by said free end of said body, said opening and said filter being annularly disposed about said orifice.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of placing the dry ice drinking vessel in engagement with said body further comprises: a. removing a lid, said charging station defining a containment selectably closed by said lid, said body being contained within said containment; b. placing said interior of the dry ice drinking vessel in engagement with said body; c. replacing said lid on said charging station containment to close said containment, the dry ice drinking vessel being enclosed within said containment when said interior is in engagement with said body and said lid is replaced, said charging station including a base, said electrically operated valve being contained within said base. 